Gary Ray Bowles
Gary Ray Bowles, who was 57, had been held at Florida State Prison for about 20 years. His lawyer raised a troubled childhood at sentencing, including a father who died of black lung disease and abuse Bowles said he suffered from stepfathers, and he left home at 14. Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant, and Bowles was executed by lethal injection at the prison in Starke on the evening of August 22, 2019, according to the governor's office. In a handwritten statement dated that day, he wrote that he was sorry for his actions and asked that his mother know he was also sorry.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. The article notes his lawyer raised his troubled childhood as a mitigating factor at sentencing.
Reported by: Florida Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); office of Gov. Ron DeSantis.